The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday failed to reach a conclusion on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, despite spending several hours deliberating behind closed doors.
Lawmakers moved into an executive session shortly after the start of plenary to review the report of an ad hoc committee constituted to harmonise inputs from senators on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The closed-door meeting reportedly lasted for about five hours.
When plenary reconvened, Senate President Godswill Akpabio did not provide any details on the discussions or decisions reached on the bill.
Instead, he announced burial arrangements for the late Okechukwu Ezea, a former senator who represented Enugu North senatorial district until his passing.
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No update was given on the outcome of the Electoral Act deliberations.
The meeting followed the Senate’s decision last week to set up a seven-member ad hoc committee after an earlier three-hour executive session aimed at further examining the proposed amendments.
While announcing the panel, Akpabio said the committee was tasked with collating, refining and synthesising the views of senators on the bill.
He noted that the committee is chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, who heads the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Other members include Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam.
According to Akpabio, the committee was given a maximum of three days to conclude its work and submit its report to the Senate.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the amendment bill, the Senate President urged restraint in the upper chamber.
This latest development marks the third time in two weeks that the Senate has failed to pass the bill, despite holding multiple executive sessions.
The Senate maintained that it would not fast-track the legislation, citing the high volume of post-election litigations arising from the 2023 general elections and the need for thorough legislative review.
Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had said the amendment would enhance the credibility of elections and strengthen institutional independence.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
